Portable street signaling device



D. C. STICKRATH.

PORTABLE STREET SiGNAUNG DEVICE.

APPL'CATIGN FILED MAH. 29. |919.

Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

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-I-I E11 D. C. STICKRATH. PORTABLE STRIET SIGNALING DEvicE.

Patented Sept. 2, 1919. r

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gnmmtaz APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, |919.

1W. ...lllll W nANInL o. sricxnarn, or OMAHA, NEBRASKA,

PORTABLE STREET SIGNALI'NG DEVICE.

Speciilcation of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

Application tiled March 29. 191e. Serial No. 286,171.

To ull 'whom t may concern Bc it known that I, DANIEL C. SnonnATH, a citizen ofthe United States, residin at Omaha, in the copnty of Douglas and tate of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in- Portable Street Signaling evices, of which `the following is a s ecication. l his invention lrelatesto' a signalin device for 'use' at street: intersections an has for its object, broadly, to providea' standard centrally of -thestreet crossing to be provided with o and sto "1 signals to be operated remote y, orat t e side ofthe street, by a person who may observe and direct the movement ofvehicles, and by means of devices under his control may readily cause a required movement of the signals, the prin cipal features of utilit bein that an operator will not 'be exposedy to inc ement weather and may observe the movementsofvehicles better than a person at themiddle o a street intersection, and the si al ma be seen to better advantage by drivers o vehicles than the customarypmanual signalingwofa tr'aiiic oiiicer.

he invention includes ineansY for illuminating the signal atnight and an automaticall o erated bell for 'use durin daytime an night, and also includes a eature relating to portability of"both the si albearing standard and observation boot of the operator.

.Thefnovel features relating to the invention are fullyr described herein and point-V ed out Ain the appended claims, and are illustrated in 'the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a broken away Vview showing the standard Yand booth inside elevation,

partsthereof being in section, 'a trench or underground conduit'bein shown in section. Fig'. 2 is a'secti'onalv etail illustrating automatic bell-ringing mechanism. Fig. 3 1s a broken-away sectional view showing the four signal arms employedand iiluminating Fig. 6 is a means ither efor. Fig. 4 shows a cbupling for a swing-post of the conduit with the operatinfshaft. Fig. 5 is a broken away detailv reating to Fig. 2, showing a cam used in the automatic 'bell-ringing mechanism. lan view of one of the rock'- levers used or actuating the cables in the conduit, being a detail relatin to Fig. l. Fig. 7 is a transverse section t rough one ofthe signalarm-s. A

Referring now to the drawing the inventlon is illustrated in connection with a conduit 8 which may be disposed in the-ground or pavement 9. It may have any re uired length to extend from an observationiiooth 10, preferably disposed at or-nearcurbV of a street intersection, to a hollowstandard 11 at the center of a street intersection.

iumeral 12 indicates a vertical swi `post havin suitable bearings in the condult and provi ed with a pair o opposed arms 13, its upper end having a head 15 provided with a recess 14 (Fig. 4) which is formed angular 1n cross-section for receiving the lower end of a vertical shaft 16, the lower end of said shaft being angular in cross-section, so that a rotatable movement of the post 12 will be communicated to said shaft.

The shaft 16 traverses the standard and rigidly mounted thereon near its upper end, are four hollow-signal arms-arranged radi- .ally in airs, as indicated at 17 and 18, the arms o a pair being dis osed in line and substantially 90 degrees from the arms of theother pair, each of thesides of one pair of arms bearin the words Go, and each of the sides cfg the other pair bearing the words Stop. j

The vertical shaft 16 andthe standard each have adefliatc lengths so that the signal arms may be sposed at such a height that the si s may be conveniently seen by edestrians and the drivers of vehicles, an since these parts are portable they are each foonstructed of two parts, as the arts a. and a' for the hollow standard and t e parts b and b for the shaft 16, the respective parts for each being suitabl and removably connected at their inner endg.

The parts are so arranged that each pair of signal arms, while at rest, willbe'disposed in line with a street, provid-1n the intersecting streets are disposed at rigv t-angles, and since the words f Stop appear u on both sides of a pair of arms, the wor s Go operate as authority lfor a movement of trafiic upon the other street, until the shaftarms 21, as best shown in Fig. 6, similar to the arms 13 above described for the swingpost l2; and the upper end of the swing-post 20 is provided with a head 22 having a rc cess for receivin the lower end of the shaft 19, snd recess bein angular in cross-section, whereby n rota'tnb e movement of seid shaft will cause a corresponding movement of the post 20.

Nnmerals 23 indie-nte a pair of adjustingrods euch being removably mountecl in the end of un arm 21, its inner end being provided with a loo 24, und by use of a pair of cables 25, eeo= beingJco'nnected Iwith a loop? 24 and with anar-n1: 13 of the post 12, an :operator using the, operetingwheel :v Within the booth may have control for rototingl the post 12, in either direction, in an arc of 90 degrees for actuating the signa] arms.

In order that an audible signal may be sounded simultaneously with the niovenienrl of the signal nrms'l provide a, bell 26 and secure it upon the upper end portion of the shaft 16` Numerals 27 indicate e pair of. clappers for 'the bell, these being disposed in slots 28 formed in the upper and lower walls of the pai-r of signal armsfll. They opemte as rock-armsv and areV -pivotally mounted as indicated at 29 upon the brackets 30,- said brackets being' disposed within sind: mounted? upon the wallsof said signal arms. v

-Nmr1erels 3'1findicete apai-r of springs forl causing=movements in one direction of the upper piirts of 'the rock-armsor clappers 28 with considerable force npailnitV the bell.

'Rigidlv mounted uponthe upper-end of the stendardi-and below thesign-el-arins are apair'- of ides or cams 32 each @having a curved wa l cextending toward its con-vergent terminal nud1 toward the shaft 1G; and

` it will' be understbod that. when e signal be moved inwardly by the fsviiiigigiri,9:l moverl lere provided for. these'fmembers; audit will be understood lthat these estensione will not prevent feelsvlzinglng'novellnents ofthe signal'arms.' When the signal' erm 17 swings in one direction totalise eri extension 33 to enge the Wall' c"of. aoirn,seid extension w1 l be disposed in ali'nement with the'rock# arm on account of the engagement of the promotions nl, and lfitter the extension fl is released from the cam it muy swing in one direction on account of said hing'cablo connection, rto permit n swinging movement ol lhe Signal erm in en opposite direction.

The provision of the audible signal is n, greet advantage since it directs attention to the moving arms. According to the pres-- ont construction. two cluppers 27 und two cams 32 are required. Since the signal arms rotate in eres of 90 degrees members 27 will be actuated by the cams before the arms have con'ipleted.ftheilzf movement in one direction, und .the audible Si nal operates to give un earl 4notice of a clange in the direction ot' tre c. Members 27 are actuated in alternetion, each operating to ring the bell while the signal arm in which itis mounted swings in one direction.- Numerels 34 indicate a resilient member, these being carried by the signal arms 17 and operntilng` to disengege the clap ers from the bell after each stroke.

In or er thattlie cables 25 muy be adjusted as to length, sleeves 35 are threaded upon the rods 23 which may be rotated for makingr seid adjustment. Numerels 36 indicate a ycover fore', mien-hole provided -for the oonduit `to permit access thereto .ifor making the adjustments, and the booth is provided with aftrap-door 37-for use in Aconnection with member 36.. 'The standerd,1at its lower end isn-lso provided with a. door; 38., convenient .for making any required-adjustments.

Since it may be desirable, upon occasion` to remove endto replace thestandard and the booth they` have such proportions that they are readily ortable, and when removed the Aheads 15 and 22 of the respective posts 12 and 20 will not become injured since they do not proj eet, above the surface of the pavement.

.l Inorder that-the signal ynoms may Abe illuminated at night-,they consist 'of rectangular box-frames4 having their sides provided with transparent lates 39, incandescent lumps 40 being provi .ed and suitably mounted-,therein. Arly suitable .arrangement for the ,elec

trieivl: miductors. may be madeyasthe pair 0f; conductors .41--energizedby any suiteble source ofelectricallv supply., as the electrical buttery 42; Numerals 43 indicate electrical @meet-members which are insulated and which are-mounted in recesses of a, surfaceplate 44- disposed in the pavement et the middle'v'e-f the streetintersection.

The' standsl-rd is provided with n bese V45 having` a pair oit' recesses formed therein .in which-:are 4disposed a pair of insulated; electrice-l centact-mermbers 46; end at 47 9.114147" are indicated n pair' of electrical conductors ine-lectriol comn'iunication with the electrical'bontact-'xnembers 46 and with all of lamps 40,1s`eid conductors 47, as bestshown in Fig. 3, being in electrical communication with one of the electrical conductors 48 of cach lamp since as best shown in Fig. 2, each conduetrn- 48 is in electrical communication with a pair of electrical contact-members 4:9 which are insulated and are mounted in the inner end-walls of the signal arms, the conductors 47 being in electrical comnlunication with one of the electrical eonductors() for each lamp, each conductor 50 being in electrical coi'nmunication with a pair of insulated contact-inembcrs 51 which are disposed above members 19 and are mounted in the inner end-Walls of the signal arms.

It is appreciated that, when the standard is placed in position, the electrical'contactmembers 43 and 46 must be in engagement in order that an electrical circuit Will be est', blished, but the parts are so proportioned that these contact-members are disposed equi-distant from the head 15, so that they will enter into engagement when the shaft 16 is coupled with the post 12. Numeral 52 indicates an electrical switch, by means of which the electrical circuit may be broken, when illumination of the signal arms is not needed. Numeral 53 indicates a hood suitably supported by radially disposed arms 54- carried by the shaft 16 for protecting the signal arms from rain or snow.

The two-part construction provided for the standard and the shaft 16 are features relating to portability, and they may be 'stored in the booth, when disconnected.

vdispose Numerals 55 indicate insulated electrical contact-members arranged in pairs for the standard, one member of each pair being mounted upon the section o, and the other member of each pair being mounted on the section b of the standard each of the electrical conductors 47 and 427 therefore being a two-part construction but each operating as a single electrical conductor when the section b of the standard has been mounted on the section b. Numeral 56 indicates a bracket which is disposed within the standard b', which supports the section b when mounted thereon.

While I have described construction in detail I do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself to exactness in this respect, and changes in form, size, proportion and minor details may be made, in accordance With the appended claims.

I claim,-

1. In a portable signaling device, a stationary conduit, a. post having journaled bearings and disposed Within and transversel of the conduit, a shaft splined on the post, orizontally disposed arms projecting radially from and rigidly mounted on the shaft, each being provided with indices, a second ost having journaled bearings and d) Within and transversely of the conduit., a member connecting said posts, said second post being Aadapted to have swinging movements in an arc substantially of U0 dcgrees for causing corresponding movements of the first named post and said shaft.

2. In a street-signaling device, the combination With a conduit having a part disosed at substantially the middle of a street intersection and having a second aart disposed remote therefrom, of an upright post journaled in the first named part of the conduit, an upright post journaled in the second part of the conduit, a cable connecting said posts, an upright shaft splincd on the first named post, a stationary hollow standard circumscribing the shaft, a cam stationary with the standard, signal-arms provided With indices and disposed radially of and carried by the shaft, a resiliently mounted rock-arm mounted on a signal-arm, means for rotating the posts to cause a swinging movement of the shaft and signal arms in an are substantially of D() degrees and to cause the rock arm to move into englgement with the cam for sounding the 3. In a portable signaling device, a conduit provided with electrical contact-members, electrical conductors in the conduit in communication with the electrical contactmembers of said conduit, an upright post journaled in the conduit, an upright shaft splined on the post, signal-arms carried by the shaft, each having opposed transparent parts and -provided with indices, a hollow standard circumscribing the shaft and provided with electrical contact-members normally in electrical communication with the c-ontact-members of the conduit, lamps between the transparent parts of the signal arms and provided with electrical conductors in communication With the electrical contact-members of the standard, means to electrically energize the electrical conductors of said conduit, and means to rotate the post substantially 90 degrees for causing a corresponding movement of the signal-arms.

4. A signaling device, comprising, in combination With a conduit having a man-hole and a cover for said man-hole, a post provided with transverse arms and journaled in the conduit, an upright shaft splined on said post, signal-arms disposed radially of and movable with the shaft, a second post, said second post being provided with transverse arms and disposed adjacent to said inanhole, cables connecting the transverse arms of the first named post with the transverse arms of the second post, devices connected with the cables and disposed adjacent to the man-hole for making longitudinal adjustments of said cables, and means for rotating the second post for causing a swinging movement of the first named post in an are substantially of 90 degrees for causing a correspending movement of said u right shaft.

5. In a signaling device or the purpose described, the combination of aconduit provided with electrical contact-members, an uprighty post in the conduit and adapted to have revoluble reciprocation in an are of 90 de rees, an upri ht shaft above the conduit an movable wit the post, an alarm bell on the shaft, hollow arms provided with indices, said arms being disposed radially of and movable with the shaft, a hollow Standard ciroumscribing the shaft and provided with electrical contact-members adapted to engage the contact-members of said conduit, a cam on the Standard, lamps carried by said arms and having electrical conductors in communication with the electrical contactmembers of the standard, means to electrically energize the contact-members of said conduit, and a rock-arm movable with the shaft to engage the cam for sounding said alarm-bell.

In testimony whereof, I have afiixcd my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL C. CTICKRATH. Witnesses:

ARTHUR H. STURGES, HmAM A. STURGES.

Copies nf this patent may be obtained tur ve cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington. D. C." Y 

